Wednesday, April 21, 2010

ALBANO (AL) DEGANO - FURLAN REMEMBERED

DEGANO, ALBANO (AL)After a long fought battle Albano Degano has crossed over the last bridge. Quietly and peacefully with his loving wife Allegra his sons Doriano, Paul and daughter Joanne by his side. Albano was born in Pasian di Prato, Udine, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Italy on January 26th, 1924 amongst a large family of six brothers and five sisters. Predeceased by Enrica(Adelchi), Rosa(Egidio), Pasquale (Augusta), Maria, Natalina, Fortunato, Ugo, Ettore and Giuliano. Albano is survived by his wife of 58 years Allegra (Zuliani) and his sons Doriano (Suzanne) Paul (Tracey), daughter Joanne (Robert) Caruso and sister Rita. Albano is also survived and adored by his grandchildren Celina (Mike), Genna, Olivia, Quentin, Anthony and Elio. Albano will be missed by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Canada and Friuli. Albano arrived in Welland from Italy in 1952 as a licensed Auto Body Repairman, applying his trade for 45 years at local businesses such as Storey and Rose, Patterson Motors, Len McGee, Maclean Motors, George's Auto Body. A proud Canadian, Albano loved his new country while retaining his Furlan Heritage, as one of the founding members of the Fogolar Furlan Niagara Club; member of the Club Roma Seniors and a life long Alpino of the 3rd Battalion Artillery Company. Family will receive family and friends at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL CHAPEL 585, Carlton St., St. Catharines on Thursday, April 22, 2010 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Vigil prayers will be recited at 3 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. Funeral Liturgy will be held on Friday, April 23, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's of the Assumption Church, 169 St. Paul Crescent, St. Catharines. Rite of Committal to follow Mass at Pleasantview Memorial Gardens, Fonthill. If desired, donations may be made on behalf of Albano to the Hamilton General Hospital Cardiac Unit or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.--------

IVANO SAYS: Doriano our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family.And yes your father has crossed the last bridge (Il Ultimo Ponte), but as the "Old Rancere"finds out -- there we will all re-unite, young, strong and without any kind of sickness.

"Oh, my dear, sweet wife! How can this be? I was old and sick, shadowy death constantly by my side. Now by you I stand, young and able, so glad to be alive!"

His young wife smiled and looked up at the rancere."O rancere mi," she replied in a soft and gentle voice. "Don't you know? Now you are in Heaven"-LA NOSTRA COSTA -Il ULTIMO PONTE--

8 comments:

DORIANO
said...

Thanks Ivano you are a dear Furlan Friend.

I hope you did not mind me using your words... crossing the last bridge... I found it appropriate especially since the very difficult time we had just prior to Dad passing on. I received an emergency phone call to come to the hospital. I rushed out and flew there !! He developed a bad infection primarily because of his low platellet count that he has had for more than 10years. I looked at him and he was with oxygen mask and staring up but I am sure he was already out! I said to him in Furlan to hold on hold on.... he was burning with a high temperature and he started convulsing!! I told him over and over again to hold on!! This was 9pm Monday 19th April by 3am 20th April he finally crossed that last bridge and he put up a Big Fight !! It was just this past Saturday that I was with him all day and he whispered in my ear "Where are my driver's licence and pants I want to go home!!! I said in time you need to gain your strength!! Again he said lets get out now !!! I know deep down he knew he was slipping away, he said I have pain ... but he never could tell where the pain was. Ivano I will be in touch

Doriano. I'm so sorry about your Father's death. However, I know that he is in a better place now. He surely didn't want to hang around in such a sickly fashion. That's not the Furlan way. BTW. Tomorrow, April 23 is the 33rd Anniversary of my mother's death. I recall how hard that was on all of us (Valentina was only 64 years old). And I really don't mind you using the "Last Bridge" in your Remembrance. I feel honored that you did. (You noticed that I expanded on it at the bottom of your article. ) God Bless and Sempre Avanti. ivn0

That was a nice tribute and thoughts on Doriano's dad . We each have our own gratitude for our dads and what they taught us and keeping with inour " beloved " Frulian tradition which we still cherish today in our lifes.ThatI know has meant so much to me .

Thank you so much for reminding me that tomorrow is the aniverseriyof your mothers passing . Again I will never forget her , I can still see her with that smile of her's and her great personality , it was like a magnet to be drawn to.There will never be another VALENTINA . RENO

Ivano I've been reading all of your e-mails from the Furlans in Canada. Most interesting and I thank you for sharing with me. I'm sorry to hear of Doriano's father's death. I'm sure he will be missed. How far from Nimis is where Prato is in Italy? I was just trying to figure out where in Friuli they're from.

I read your note yesterday remembering your mother's death 33 years ago. She passed just six months after my mother. I remember visiting her when she was so sick and wished that I could do something to make her well. She was suck a lovely lady.

Are you still writing a sequel to your book? Your blog is doing quite well - it certainly keeps everyone informed.

Thanks Thelma for your kind words. Our hearts go out to Doriano's family. Even though we know that death is part of life, it is still hard for the living to accept that their love ones have departed. The Doriano birth place in Friuli is not too far from Nimis. I believe it is just north of there. We are in the final stages of editing and formatting a movie script which is based on the first half of "La Nostra Costa". It is entitled "Turbulent Quest" -- 'A young immigrant couple from Northern Italy confronts Fascism, The Great Depression and a World War while seeking the American Dream'. I expect to make an announcement on the "Blagga" shortly. Also, I'm negotiating with Authorhouse at this time to put "La Nostra Costa" on the Web as an e-book. Hope everything is well with you and your family. 'Con Un Bacin D'Mor" Ivano

About Me

Born the youngest son of Immigrant parents from the Friuli Region in Northeastern Italy, I was raised on a "rancio" on the North Coast of Santa Cruz. In 1959 I graduated from San Jose State College and joined the City Police Force. I retired in 1989 with the rank of Captain. In 2001, my article, "Wrong Side of the Highway," was published in the book, "Una Storia Segreta: The Secret History of Italian American Evacuation and Internment during World War II" (Heyday Books). "La Nostra Costa" (Our Coast),which covers my family's journey to and from the north coast, roughly covers the period between 1923 to 1983. It is my first book.
LA NOSTRA COSTA (OUR COAST)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORHOUSE:
www.authorhouse.com, 1-888-280-7715. For further information visit the La Nostra Costa Website:
www.lanostracosta.com-a.googlepages.com